Admiral Cheng-Ho

January 9, 2014

We were thrilled slow concluding yr when nosotros Monk Bodhi Dharma, would presently cause got a sibling cafe inwards the inner north-east. Admiral Cheng-Ho opened its doors to customers concluding Th morn in addition to nosotros were in that place to welcome it to the neighbourhood.

Though Admiral Cheng-Ho has its ain distinct theme, there's a clear household unit of measurement resemblance inwards the glossy lacquered upcycled timber, bare bulbs in addition to exposed bricks. They accept their java seriously in addition to Michael confirms that it's seriously good. The all hateful solar daytime breakfast menu follows closely inwards Monk's footsteps - the bircher, avocado on toast, granola in addition to umami mushrooms are all hither inwards nigh the same form, piece in that place await to last novel versions of the savoury fritters in addition to sweetness pancakes. 

At present, everything is vegan or vegan adaptable, in addition to marked equally such; to a greater extent than than one-half of the dishes are marked gluten complimentary in addition to ii are raw.

Michael was deeply impressed yesteryear The Admiral ($18.50) - ii thick gluten-free zucchini fritters overlaid alongside seasonal vegetables (lightly cooked asparagus, carrot in addition to kale), beetroot taste in addition to a basil cashew cream that he couldn't halt raving about.

I was similarly enamoured of the northside quinoa pancakes ($18.50), based on some other high-performing gluten-free batter. This i had the distinct nuttiness of quinoa without compromising whatsoever of the fluffiness most of us desire inwards a pancake. The sandy 'coffee soil' on peak didn't create much for me, but the sugar-free trinity of butterscotch sauce, raw vanilla icecream in addition to candied orangish was exquisite.

Admiral Cheng-Ho hasn't sprung whatsoever large surprises on those of us who've brunched at Monk Bodhi Dharma. Prices are at the higher cease of the brunch market, in addition to the dishes demo the thought, science in addition to imagination that warrants it. If anything it's a relief to run into in addition to thence much of what's wonderful almost Monk interpret to a instant kitchen, in addition to i I tin conceivably wheel to.

____________

Admiral Cheng-Ho
325 Johnston St, Abbotsford
9534 7250
veg breakfasts $8-18.50

Accessibility: There's a unmarried large measuring on entry, high density seating within in addition to a clear broad path through the middle. We ordered at the tabular array in addition to paid at a depression counter. We didn't take in the toilets.

The Cornish Arms Ii

January 9, 2014

We bring been occasionally hitting upwardly The Cornish Arms on Sydney Road for lazy junk-food dining together with decided nosotros should lastly weblog it again. They seem to tweak their carte du jour semi-regularly, but hold a substantial listing of vegan pub nutrient for those of us who are nostalgic for parmas or chicken burgers. It's heavy on the mock meat - there's dishes similar the mixed grill (faux duck, facon, meatballs together with pate with salad together with bread, $21), a mock chicken burrito ($19), a duck-based steak sandwich ($19) together with a banh mi (starring bbq pork seitan together with mushroom meatballs, $20) amongst a couplet of non-mock options (Massaman curry $17, portabello mushroom burger, $17). Let's live clear: this is non the house to become if you're afterward something fresh together with salubrious - your repast is going to live huge, it's going to live fried together with it's going to live salty. That's simply the agency things are at The Cornish.

I completely embraced the mock-meat subject together with ordered the double-down burger ($20, based on the KFC abomination of the same name). The uncomplicated (and horrifying) thought behind the double downwards is the replacement of the rule burger bun with chicken patties. So the Cornish double downwards is 2 gigantic crumbed pieces of mock chicken surrounding a piece of facon, unopen to Lycopersicon esculentum together with unopen to melted Cheezly. With sauce.

It's clearly a ridiculous meal, but non without its oily charms - the chicken pieces bring a tasty crumb together with are pretty decent gluten-based mock meat, the facon is first-class together with the whole sense is gleefully gluttonous. The cursory slaw doesn't add together much inward the agency of veggies, together with the wedges (while excellent) are simply to a greater extent than fried goodness. The double downwards won't live for everybody, but it definitely won itself a fan inward me.

Cindy decided to sample the fish together with chips, having heard that they'd worked on the batter since our Occupie Fitzroy together with first trip.

As yous tin see, they actually bring - these are at in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than batter than fish. Crispy together with non also oily (while clearly having simply been deep-fried), the batter coats 3 biggish chunks of tofu-based fish, with most of the fishy flavor actually coming via the vegan tartare sauce. It was also much for Cindy to eat, but she looked pretty content when she gave up.

The Cornish is a trusty vegan-friendly pub inward Brunswick that volition tike yous upwardly unopen to mock meat together with assist yous recapture fond memories of one-time schoolhouse pub food. The prices are a combat steep, but it seems vegans volition pay proficient coin to places that await afterward them - it's almost ever full. There's a neat make of beer on tap, a prissy courtyard together with regular bands/entertainment (of varying lineament it must live said). Our sense of the service inward the past times has been upwardly together with down, but things ran pretty smoothly on this visit.

____________ 

Read virtually our previous see to The Cornish Arms Occupie Fitzroy together with here. Since then, it's been reviewed past times Occupie Fitzroy together with The Good Hearted (who both loved it) together with Chef John Smith (who admired the greasy vegan pub food, but wanted unopen to decent salubrious options). 

____________  

The Cornish Arms

163A Sydney Rd, Brunswick

9380 8383 

vegan mains $17-$21

http://www.cornisharms.com.au/

Accessibility: There's a apartment entryway together with a pretty spacious interior. Lighting is depression without beingness ludicrously dim. Ordering together with payment happens at the bar. The toilets are on the same degree together with are wheelchair accessible.

The Grain Store

January 11, 2014

Our entirely chore for Sabbatum was a trip to the markets and, amongst our go-to brekkie options Elceed together with Twenty & Six Espresso both on summertime break, nosotros branched out into the CBD to sample The Grain Store. I'd seen the strange yell of this house suggesting it would last a solid veg-friendly brunch choice, but it turns out The Grain Store is 1 of the most hyped cafes inward town (check out the link round-up at the bottom of this post). Luckily, everyone was withal at the beach on the weekend, together with then at that topographic point was no queuing for tables or feeling pressure level to consume chop-chop together with teach out.

It's an oddly sterile infinite - inward around ways reminding me of a cafe inward a concern hotel (the dreadful music existence piped over the speakers in all probability contributed to this impression). The service was slightly strong together with formal equally well, taking the whole experience a chip farther away from the casual brunch I was expecting. The carte is fascinating, particularly inward damage of sweets. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twain of examples: you lot tin get a summertime fruit cocktail amongst golden flax seed dukkah, agave nectar buttermilk, watermelon mouse together with rooftop chocolate mint ($13) or cottage pancakes amongst passionfruit, almond butter, berry together with pistachio smoothie, strawberry puree together with honeycomb streusel ($17). It's to a greater extent than oft than non quite vegetarian friendly together with there's 1 clearly labelled vegan dish (cauliflower, quinoa together with goji berries amongst pumpkin hummus, celeriac together with nigella seeds, $17). I got the feeling a twain of the other dishes would last veganisable too, although nosotros didn't confirm it.

We stuck amongst the non-vegan carte options. For Cindy, buttermilk French toast together with poached peach amongst peppered caramel, lemon curd, sugariness basil together with oreo crumble ($17).

This was basically fine-dining for breakfast - at that topographic point were petty splotches of sugariness basil, a business of oreo crumble together with a chip swirl of peppered caramel. It was all real good executed (especially the lemon curd) together with the inventiveness together with idea behind it is impressive, but at that topographic point was something a chip fussy almost it equally a breakfast.

My repast was a chip to a greater extent than straightforward: portobello mushrooms amongst a raclette spud rösti, poached eggs together with a hazelnut hollandaise ($18).

These guys actually know how to poach an egg - they were both at but the correct degree of ooze. The mushrooms were fantabulous equally good together with the creamy hazelnut hollandaise was a prissy variation on a criterion breakfast sauce. The rösti was a chip of a letdown though, quite modest together with a chip undercooked for my tastes.

It's tardily to come across why The Grain Store has built such a big next together with then chop-chop - they produce a gain of fancy, innovative brunches, amongst dandy java inward a calorie-free high-ceilinged space. There was something almost the whole experience that left Cindy together with I a petty apartment though - I gauge we're but non that upward for high-end dining at breakfast time, preferring a to a greater extent than casual brunch experience. Still, The Grain Store wins points for having an impressive array of veggie dishes, existence opened upward inward the CBD on the weekend together with staying on top of dietary requirements (gluten-free options are widespread). Also: the petty sweets on the agency out looked incredible.

____________

For a house that's barely been opened upward 6 months, The Grain Store has been visited past times a ridiculous release of bloggers.  The City Gourmand, dumpling love, Gluttony Gluttony, Sarah Cooks, Fig And Walnut (twice), The Hungry Excavator, confessions of a petty piggy, Sweet together with Sour Fork, Adventures of a Melbourne Girl, Laws of the Kitchen, Yellow Eggs, Ichigo Shortcake, Melbourne Delicatesses, Thought iv Food, A Sheepish Flog, The Epicurean of Southbank, Gourmet Chick, The Owl's Nest, Mr & Ms, A Swoonful of Sugar, Mango Macarons, Caramel Love, Clekitty Bites together with eleia-c didn't intend it measured upward to the hype.

____________

The Grain Store

517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

9972 6993 

veggie breakfasts $12-$23

http://www.grainstore.com.au/

Accessibility: There's a ramped entryway into a good lit together with pretty spacious interior. There's total tabular array service. We didn't catch the toilets.

Mankoushe Bakery Iii

January 11, 2014

We've been regular customers at Mankoushe since the Lebanese bakery opened on Lygon St three-and-a-bit years ago. Co-owner Jad ever recognises us as well as takes a instant to nation hi; somewhere along the business he figured out that we're those vego bloggers. We've consistently as well as happily paid our ain means during our frequent visits but latterly accepted an invitation to endeavour some of their novel bakery carte du jour on the house. So convey this rare freebie post inwards that context.

We took a spot out dorsum where it's shady, it's a lilliputian easier to discuss the soundtrack of Leonard Cohen as well as Zeppelin, as well as I could induce got a peek at their herb garden. The menu's a skillful i for veg*ns - classics such equally the herb staff of life ($3), my honey haloumi pie ($5.50) as well as Michael's favourite falafel roll ($8.50) are all the same available as well as there's a novel department of 8 fancier vegetarian pizzas that nudge into double-digit prices. Vegan options larn a (v) as well as comprehend almost one-half of the vegetarian menu. Spelt flour dough is available on request, but the bakery's belike best avoided yesteryear those eschewing gluten entirely.

There's also a salad ($7) as well as a dip ($6-9) on the menu; they'll shift roughly depending on what fresh arrive at takes the Choucair brothers' fancy each fortnight. We loved this summery dark-green salad amongst mint, pomegranate seeds as well as flaked almonds.

As for the the pizzas, nosotros get-go chose the fitir ($10), spread amongst love apple tree sauce as well as dotted amongst plump garlic mushrooms, baked to a crisp as well as therefore topped amongst dollops of chilli labneh as well as fresh mint leaves.

The earthy vegan-friendly laktin ($11) was only equally lovely - instead of love apple tree the base of operations has a charred oregano-sesame layer, generous chunks of cinnamon pumpkin as well as is finished amongst finely shredded fresh cabbage as well as a dizzle of pomegranate molasses. (In this flick you'll also spot the herby sweetness white patato dip currently on rotation.)

Jad insisted on packing us off amongst some dessert. He explained that this cinnamon semolina pudding ($7) is traditionally made to celebrate the nativity of a child. It's surprisingly shine as well as velvety, deeply spiced as well as topped amongst almonds, sultanas as well as dessicated coconut.

Mankoushe has built its reputation on its wood-fired oven as well as Lebanese heritage (not to advert their love for Bob Dylan at acme volume!), as well as they're developing a wonderful, seasonally responsive means amongst fresh local ingredients. Without a doubt, we'll last dorsum to endeavour the other half-dozen novel veg options out of our ain pocket. 

____________

You tin also read our previous Mankoushe Bakery (one, two) as well as Cafe (one, two) posts. Since my final collation I haven't spotted whatever novel weblog posts close either venue.

____________

Mankoushe Bakery

323 Lygon St, Brunswick East

9078 9223

veg items $5-14.50

http://mankoushebrunswick.wordpress.com/

Accessibility: There's a pocket-sized measurement upward through a narrow-ish entry as well as a chip of infinite inwards the forepart room. Toilets as well as courtyard are accessed via a yoke of steps as well as a narrow, bricked path. We unremarkably social club as well as pay at a depression counter.

Lemon & Huckleberry Loaf

January 11-12, 2014

Last weekend nosotros had another sewing day alongside Bec as well as Clamps - Michael made an entire shirt, as well as Bec as well as I at i time convey a pretty cool retro wearing clothing inwards the works. Bec prepared bread, Clamps fried seitan, as well as they seat us inwards accuse of snacks. So Michael as well as I collected shiny vegan treats from the Korean grocers surrounding the Queen Victoria Markets, as well as thus delved within for around cheapish blueberries as well as lemons.

The blueberries as well as lemons were for this loaf cake, from Isa Does It. It's a uncomplicated i bowl job, as well as I trialled a distich of tweaks to larn inwards simpler yet for my kitchen (all successful!). It took a lilliputian less fourth dimension than expected to bake through, as well as yous tin encounter higher upwards that the crust split, which I genuinely quite like. On tiptop is a simple, runny glaze of vanilla, lemon juice as well as icing saccharide (if you're non corking on those lilliputian flecks of white above, sifting the icing saccharide should cook that correct up). Isa Chandra Moskowitz deems it optional, but if yous similar a potent lemony season inwards your sweets I'd strongly recommend going for the glaze.

Even if yous produce skip it, yous tin endure certain of moist, cakey loaf - I had to spell mine thickly to avoid the cake crumbling nether the knife. Bec spread her get-go spell alongside margarine, as well as Clamps served i after alongside a spoonful of kokosnoot yoghurt on top, but I liked this loaf real much on its own.

Lemon as well as huckleberry loaf
(very slightly adapted from from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Isa Does It)

cake
2/3 loving cup soymilk
iii tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 loving cup vegetable fossil oil
3/4 loving cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
ii cups plainly flour
ii 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 loving cup blueberries

glaze
1/2 loving cup icing sugar
ii tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat an oven to 180°C as well as describe a loaf tin alongside paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon juice as well as zest. Add the oil, saccharide as well as vanilla as well as whisk around more. Sift inwards the flour, baking pulverization as well as salt, stirring everything together to shape a shine batter. Fold inwards the blueberries.

Spray the papered loaf tin alongside a lilliputian fossil oil as well as pour inwards the batter, smoothing over the top. Bake the loaf for 45-60 minutes, until it's golden brownish on tiptop as well as a skewer through the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool inwards the tin for fifteen minutes, as well as thus exterior the tin for at to the lowest degree an hour.

To brand the glaze, whisk together the ingredients as well as spoon or pour them over the cake. The glaze is real runny, thus I picked my spots, dribbled the glaze slowly, as well as allowed around of it to puddle inwards the baking paper. Allow the glaze to cool as well as laid a lilliputian earlier serving.

Vanilla Peach Frozen Yoghurt

January 13-14, 2014

Four of Michael's aunts together with uncles flew to Melbourne for a scorching few days of tennis, together with nosotros made certain to bring them over for a repast inward our chilled-out air-conditioned flat. Michael seat on a summery Mexican-inspired spread of refried beans, tofu chicharrones, corn salad, tortillas together with fresh veges, together with I churned upward this vanilla peach frozen yoghurt.

It's a surprisingly uncomplicated formula from the often-more-convoluted David Lebovitz. This fourth dimension it was me complicating things, adding inward orangish essence, vanilla together with a pinch of common salt where Lebovitz listed alone a uncomplicated dash of lemon juice. Thankfully I managed non to detract from the substitution feature: a pocketbook of white peaches. You tin meet that they don't add together much to the color of this dessert, but I hope that they lend enough of flavour.

The yoghurt is definitely secondary to the fruit - this comes off every bit equal parts refreshing sorbet together with creamy dairy-based dessert. I'd honey to endeavour making it amongst coconut yoghurt every bit a vegan alternative.

Vanilla peach frozen yoghurt
(adapted slightly from David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop)


700g (about 5) ripe peaches
1/2 loving cup water
3/4 loving cup caster sugar
1 loving cup natural yoghurt
a few drops of lemon juice
a few drops of orangish essence (optional)
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Slice the peaches into quarters, take away them from their stones, together with peel off their skins. Chop the peaches into chunks together with house them inward a large saucepan. Pour inward the H2O together with house the saucepan on medium heat, roofing it amongst a lid. Cook the peaches until tender, almost 10 minutes, removing the lid occasionally to stir them. Take the peaches off the heat, stir inward the saccharide (it should dissolve rapidly) together with refigerate the peaches overnight.

The adjacent day, transfer the peaches to a nutrient processor together with add together inward the yoghurt. Whizz the mixture until it's good mixed together with to a greater extent than frequently than non smooth. Add the lemon juice, orangish essence, common salt together with vanilla, whizz again, gustatory modality together with adjust the season every bit yous similar it.

Churn the mixture inward an icecream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Ethos Swallow Drinkable Ii

January 15, 2014

Michael as well as I were drawn to MONA FOMA for the tertiary consecutive year, as well as managed to check a petty Hobart dining precisely about all the aaaaaart. We had extra fourth dimension for dinner on our outset nighttime as well as decided to pass it at Ethos.

Ethos has evolved a petty since our terminal visit. It hasn't backed off on its upcycled, home-grown, local, seasonal M.O.; genuinely it's stronger than always amongst an edible garden replacing the outdoor seating we'd previously known.

When nosotros outset inspected their carte du jour a yoke of years agone they were offering shared plates but forthwith Ethos convey shifted only to a degustation-style carte du jour of 6 ($70pp) or 8 ($90pp) courses. They offering a listing of their latest favourite ingredients hence you lot tin eliminate anything you lot can't or won't eat, as well as hence they brand upwards the residue from there.

We hadn't booked a table, since our innovation was precisely to wander inwards early a weeknight as well as portion a yoke of dishes, but the staff hinted that they prefer reservations as well as warnings almost particular dietary requirements. Nevertheless, they topographic point together a lovely banquet for us.

potato crisps & creme fraiche

a negroni (left) as well as a cocktail of passionfruit, mint, lime & rum ($18ea)

cauliflower & asparagus compressed amongst olive oil 

plus puffed rice & a preserved lemon dressing

almond milk & garlic sauce, tiresome roasted almonds, dark garlic, 

radishes, borage flowers

carrots (roasted, fresh & pickled inwards chardonnay vinegar & caraway seeds)

on a carrot purée amongst toasted breadcrumbs, Angelica flowers & garlic

roasted, fresh as well as pickled parsnips, 

daikon radish pickled inwards rice vino vinegar & coriander seed, 

roasted butternut pumpkin & summertime greens amongst a miso sauce

pickled hen egg, kohlrabi sous vide, courgette sautéed on i side, 

raw golden peas, infant basil, labne, as well as pickled rhubarb

apricots inwards mirin, nectarines inwards gin, plums inwards to a greater extent than unidentified alcohol, 

rhubarb champagne jelly, chocolate-brown butter shortbread, 

rum parfait & dark sesame meringue

Everything tasted equally adept equally it looks here, as well as nosotros couldn't aid noticing that a lot of it was vegan. The Ethos chefs are clearly having a pickling frenzy, as well as though nosotros enjoyed most of their preserved veges nosotros were overwhelmed past times vinegar flavours equally the savoury courses concluded. They definitely won us dorsum amongst dessert, a boozy shared hodge-podge of stonefruit, icecream, jelly as well as shortbread.

Ethos' dinner set-up has shifted a adept bargain closer to Garagistes' inwards the past times year, as well as thankfully the eating topographic point hasn't lost whatever of its past times charms inwards the process.

____________

You tin read almost our dinner at Ethos a twelvemonth agone here. Since as well as hence their vegetarian options convey got the tick on FeedMeUpScotty as well as Lynnnnn wasn't into it.

____________

Ethos Eat Drink
100 Elizabeth St, Hobart
6231 1165
6 courses $70pp, 8 courses $90pp
http://ethoseatdrink.com/

Accessibility: Looks cracking to my eyes - apartment all the agency through amongst relatively spacious tables as well as total tabular array service. There's a disability-access privy as well as all toilets are unisex.

____________